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Anchor apologizes after accidentally using slur in gay-pride story

The opening line on the teleprompter said, “I pledge allegiance to the flag.”

When KSTP-TV anchor Bill Lunn read it as he started in on a story about Minneapolis’s gay pride festival this week, he accidentally dropped the “l” from the word “flag.” He quickly corrected himself, but the slip-up still managed to hit YouTube to the tune of 50,000 views Wednesday and, later, websites such as Salon.com and The Huffington Post:

Lunn took to Twitter to say, “What came out of my mouth was a word I never use.”

I want to sincerely apologize for stumbling over the word flag on Tuesday's late newscast. What came out of my mouth was a word I never use.

The Twitter reaction to Lunn’s apology seems to be largely positive, with all the replies acknowledging the anchor’s unfortunate use of the slur toward gay men was a slip-up. Many said they accepted his apology.

KSTP is supporting its anchor, too, answering tweets about the slip of the tongue with, “This was an unfortunate mistake,” and pointing to Lunn’s apology.